‘There’s hope for other Ukrainians in Crimea to get a new life when they get released’, he says

Hennadiy Afanasyev, ex-political prisoner in Russia, received a new apartment in Kyiv. He posted that at Facebook on Tuesday.

‘Russian Federation took away my land, my sea and mountains, my home and my freedom. Today, thanks to the Ukrainian nation, the government and the international society, I’m free. Unfortunately, I cannot get back to my home city. Now, my aspirations and social activity demand that my presence here, in Kyiv. Now the issue’s settled, and I got my own apartment, which I hope will become my home for quite a while. I reckon such actions of the government give hope for the rest of Crimean citizens that they’ll get a new life as soon as they get released’, he posted.

Ukrainian activist Hennadiy Afanasyev was detained in Crimea in May 2014. Russian law enforcers arrested him on charges of ‘terrorism’. Afanasyev and his comrade, Ukrainian businessman Yuriy Soloshenko, returned to Ukraine on June 2016, thanks to continuous diplomatic efforts and a presidential pardon in Russia.